Born in Ontario on 3 April 1865, he entered the service of the American Express Company in Toronto in 1884. He was later Agent of the Dominion Express Company at Winnipeg and joined the Canadian Express Company in 1902, holding the positions of Superintendent, Auditor, General Superintendent and General Manager. In 1924, he was appointed Acting General Manager of the Canadian National Express Company. He and wife Emma had a son, John Muir (b 1882).